**US Commerce Department to Explore Restricting or Banning Chinese Drones**
The US Commerce Department has announced that it will investigate ways to secure the technology and supply chain of drones from foreign adversaries, including China and Russia. The department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) is seeking public input on a potential rule to safeguard the information and communication technology and services (ICTS) supply chain for drones.
The US government is concerned that foreign adversaries may be able to remotely access and manipulate these devices, exposing sensitive US data. China, which produces most of the world’s drones, has a frosty relationship with the US due to differences in foreign policy, including China’s stance on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said that securing the unmanned aircraft systems technology supply chain is critical to safeguarding national security. If implemented, the proposed rule change may restrict or ban drones from countries deemed as foreign adversaries.
This move follows a bill passed by the US House of Representatives in March 2024, which required TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to sell its stakes in the company within six months or lose access to US markets. The US government is becoming increasingly watchful of national security amid high-profile incidents such as foreign interference in US elections.
**Russia Launches 72 Drones Against Ukraine**
Meanwhile, Russia launched 72 drones against Ukraine overnight on January 2, including Iranian-designed Shahed ones. Ukraine’s Air Force reported that all the drones were destroyed or forced to return without hitting their targets. However, a Russian attack killed a civilian in the town of Stepnohirsk in Zaporizhzhia Oblast.
Ukraine’s military intelligence agency (HUR) also reported that two Russian helicopters were downed in a recent strike by Ukrainian-made Magura V5 naval strike drones. The strike resulted in significant losses for Russia, according to Andrii Kovalenko, head of Ukraine’s counter-disinformation center.
**Rise in Gas Prices and Electricity Import**
The rise in gas prices to 51 euros per megawatt-hour is the highest since October 2023. Ukraine’s electricity import increased more than fivefold in 2024 to 4.4 million megawatt-hours (MWh), ExPro consulting company’s electricity monitoring data showed.
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